Cars & Trucks & What You Like

[Paolo]

I am curious. For those here on EA that drive, what is your preferred car/truck?

I know that the Nun here can jump in a Chevy and drive it for 500,000,000 miles, while others only have to look at a certain brand the wheels will fall off!

Not counting the high school/college era cars I've had, I had the best luck with Dodge. Namely, 2 new Dakotas in a row. Both 2wd. The 88 was 2.2L stick, and while it had an issue (hybrid carb/injector problems), that was solved by transplanting a 1985 Shelby Charger intake system on it. The 93 Dakota was a 3.9L Magnum with a stick, and could cruise at 140 mph without even breaking a sweat. Talula and the crew got to see that one, when it made it's just at 9 hour "flight" from southern Indiana to River Falls, WI back in '01. That truck was a dream come true. In almost 180k miles, it only ever needed a water pump. (And oil changes, tune ups, brakes) Then, like a dumbass, I traded it in for an '02. It was a lemon, up to me filing suit over it. A total lemon! It was at this point that I abandoned Dodge.

The 2004 Ford Explorer I have now has given me a few fits since 2006, but the mystery of those issues has been solved. Godson2 did indeed run it off the road in '08 and messed up the front end, which was exacerbated by the shop I was using not using quality parts on it. Other than that, it's only done 1 stupid thing: the coil pack box fell apart and fell off. Literally. I have to admit, that in the 10 years I've had it, at 130k miles now, it's not done that many stupid things. The front end issues are all down to cheap parts the shop used, until I finally caught on to what they were doing. Most Ford failures are genetic, and be avoided again with someone else's parts. Ford parts? Nope. I'd sooner use J.C. Whitney!

I have to say, however, that I will never buy another new Ford. I have read too many horror stories about them, especially the Mustang and the F150 with the 302's. The Ecoboost, which is actually a turbo system, also has issues. That, and I DO NOT like all the tech in new cars. Which means I will probably be on the hunt for something old and restored, or from CA or AZ where there's no road salt! Back in '79, I think it was, and then up to '87 when they stopped, Ford tried the turbo thing. I had a turbo 2.3L Mustang. So did 2 other people here. And the T-bird Coupe. People joke about Ford "Exploders", not Explorers, but the turbos of the 80's tended to blow up all the time. Some of them spectacularly. My 2nd one fell victim to a loopy waste gate. BOOM! Guess it wasn't designed for 13:1 pistons? Still, the issues I am reading about on many makes of Fords, just not the Mustangs, has scared me away from Ford.

However, if I could find the proverbial "little old lady" with a late 80's or early 90's Dodge, I would consider that. The 2.2L can be overhauled in 3 days. No, not every 3 days! Say what you will, those crazy Omni's run forever.

The only new cars I would consider are Mazda and Toyota, maybe Subaru. After some of the horror stories my Godson told me when he worked for a Chevy dealer for 5 years, they're out, too. New cars and trucks coming off the carriers, and not even getting around the lot before breaking down. Blown engines, failed computers, transmissions that won't shift out of 1st... including a very pricey 2500 series truck the size of the Titanic that made it 5 miles down the road on a test drive and "bricked": computer failure. Even On-Star was locked up.

So what is your favorite ride? What have you had the best of luck with?

[GordonGG (imported)]

Currently we are driving a 2014 Mazda 3 and a 2000 4x4 Supercab Ford Ranger. (Also have a 09 Harley Ultra Glide which I bought new.) This is the second Ranger, lost the previous one in an accident, and then immediately bought another one used. The first Ranger was a 94 4x4 super cab also. Had to have the transmission and transfer car rebuilt on that one. The only new car I have ever bought is the Mazda. We love that car, currently have 68,000 miles on it without one single problem other than normal maintenance. Our prior car was a 1996 Subaru Outback, and we drove it till the engine died. It had the notorious Subaru head gasket problem. It had over 175,000 miles on it, and we could have just replaced the engine and kept driving it, but we fell in love with the new Mazda 3. Besides my wife wanted a more "sporty" car.

I've almost always driven Fords. In high school I had a 65 Mustang fastback. Sure wish I still had that! Then had a 67 Cougar, now that car was a piece of shit. Everytime I turned around there was something wrong with it. Owned a 64 Mercury Comet for a while. That car was great. I also had a 68 Mustang California model. Another car I wish I still had. We also owed a big 68 Chev station wagon. We called it the USS Enterprise. We had 5 kids, so needed the room. That car turned into a rust bucket. When it rained you had to have towels on your lap in the front seat cause the upper glass line leaked from all the rust. We sold that for like $100 and bought a 12 passenger Ford Econoline. Loved that thing, but it was a gas hog. Next was a Dodge Grand Caravan, late 90's. And traded it in on a new Dodge Grand Caravan, like an early 2000's. Oh ya we bought that new too. Forgot about that one at first. That vehicle gave us a few problems. The clock spring in the steering column went bad and the transmission had to be rebuilt, all under warranty. And a few other things that I can't remember right now. I've had bad luck with Dodges, and will never buy another one.

If I had the money, which I don't. I would buy one of the new 2019 Ford Rangers.

Wow, I typed a lot.

[talula]

I drive a lawnmower which I know pisses Paolo off. I get onboard, pull the ripcord on the Briggs & Stratton engine, turn the radio up high and go screaming recklessly through the snow at sickening high rates of speed. It is fun.

[Brycenosak (imported)]

A southern hemisphere perspective. I have been an auto mechanic for 39 years. Have had more cars than I can remember but dont generally 'buy and sell' to make money. In new zealand our vehicle fleet is quite old. Around 13.5 years old average. We are flooded with used jap imports. Not just jap cars but all the old, 10yr+, euros! This because we are a right hand drive country. Have very few of the big us style trucks, the odd F150, dodges, chevs etc. More the ford explorer, land cruiser size. Any vehicle pre 2000 is required to have a warrant of fitness, roadworthy inspection. Post 2000 its yearly. The govt in its stupidity, brought this in a few years back, but didnt have a roll over age system. Like when the vehicle gets to 15 years old, it goes to 6months etc. Our roads are generally sealed with coarse chip and are pretty crappy, due to a defunct rail system and very heavy trucks, up to 66 tonnes. petrol around $2.20 a litre, diesel, $1.55. Diesel fuel attracts a 'road user charge' system, where you pay for mileage. The RUC system is subject to fraud, commonly speedos are simply switched off! Most of my drivers have been australian six cylinder cars, which are considered big.I like my toyotas and nissans. Nothing post 2005 as I'm not that keen on what I see as excessive use of technology, super complex emission control and over complicated drivetrains. Even if I could afford to buy knew, nothing really appeals to me. We hear of 'in warranty' horror stories. Where I live and work is rural. I walk 9 metres to work! My drive is a 2001 australian fairlane, on LPG, $1.39 a litre. Its an ex govt limo, Every option for its day. A 'big' car. I also have an '88 petrol hilux, a '91 toyota hiace diesel van, a '75 shorty landcruiser, a '85 hiace camper van, a '95 nissan cefiro, a '90 aussi fairmont and a 1972 chrysler valiant wagon. So have got it covered? Happy Christmas!

[Arab Nights (imported)]

I walk 9 metres to work! QUOTE]

Up hill into the teeth of a blizzard both ways? If not, you are not a midwesterner.

[rogerwpbfl (imported)]

Tesla Model S P100D. For anyone wanting to "gift" me one in black, I'd consider being your bitch for a weekend... lol...

[CircItaly (imported)]

A Ford Fiesta. From here your obsession for giant cars looks like insane

[Lesley (imported)]

LEXUS if not a LEXUS we will get a Tesla when we can afford it.

[justine77 (imported)]

A white Toyota Fortuner, both myself and my tgirl girlfriend have been taken in the back so some hot memories.

Justine x

[kristoff]

My last truck was a 2002 Chevy Silverado 1500 with a 4.8L vortec engine. I drove it for 436,000 miles before I got rid of it. The only real problem was the transmission. I had mine rebuilt twice, and then replaced it with a junk yard transmission. Chevy transmissions back then sucked.

I now have a 2012 chevy Silverado 1500 which I have driven 249,000 miles. It has a v-6 engine which is just too small for a truck this size. Just routine work with minor repairs needed. I am just waiting for the transmission to go.

I tell people to just look around and see what the couriers are driving - they do 50-60,000 city miles a year around here. They almost all drive chevies and fords. You rarely see a dodge, very rarely a caravan - they're always in for repairs; they don't last. Toyota trucks are too expensive and are very expensive to repair. Not too many of them use cars. I'll stick with chevy silverados, although I am wary of the new 6 or 7 speed transmissions. I'll wait another 200,000 miles.